Plunger Caddy

ABSTRACT

A plunger caddy for holding a plunger includes a top, a bottom opposing the top, and an upstanding sidewall to connect the top and the bottom. The top includes a first aperture to accept a seal portion of the plunger and the top to support an enlarged end of the plunger.

PRIORITY

The present invention claims priority under 35 USC section 119 based on a provisional application Ser. No. 60/753,056 file on Feb. 17, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to bathroom accessories and in particular, to a device for storing a toilet plunger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilet plungers have long been used to unblock drains. Such toilet plungers are difficult to store because of the limited amount of space in most bathrooms; in addition, toilet plungers are unsightly and unsanitary. Yet the toilet plunger should be readily available when necessary to remove blockages in the drains.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a plunger caddy for storing a toilet plunger which permits the user to easily insert and to easily remove the toilet plunger without touching the plunger cup of the toilet plunger.

The present invention permits the user to insert a toilet plunger into the plunger caddy of the present invention.

The plunger caddy also advantageously permits the toilet plunger to drain inside the plunger caddy without draining on the bathroom floor and permits the drainage to collect in the plunger caddy.

The plunger caddy can be designed to coordinate with current bathroom fashion colors and prints.

Further, the plunger caddy of the present invention resists tipping when the plunger caddy is in the storage position and when the plunger is removed from within the device.

A plunger caddy for holding a plunger includes a top, a bottom opposing the top, and an upstanding sidewall to connect the top and the bottom. The top includes a first aperture to accept a seal portion of the plunger and the top to support an enlarged end of the plunger.

The plunger includes a second aperture to accept the seal portion.

The plunger includes a shoulder around the periphery of the first aperture.

The plunger includes an inclined wall to define the second aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plunger caddy of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the plunger caddy of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the plunger caddy of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the plunger;

FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the plunger;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plunger;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plunger and plunger caddy of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates another plunger.

DESCRIPTION

Toilet plungers generally include a plunger element and an elongated, rigid handle element that are widely used for alleviating minor blockages in toilets and/or drain lines. Generally, the plunger element of a toilet plunger of this type is made of a resiliently deformable material in a substantially circular, rounded, open, cup-like configuration, and the plunger element is formed with an open interior area or cavity which opens outwardly through the open end of the plunger element. The handle element of a toilet plunger of this general type is generally made from a relatively rigid material, such as wood or plastic, and the handle element is connected to the plunger element so that it extends from the end thereof which is opposite the open end. A toilet plunger of this general type is operable by first positioning the plunger element thereof so that it is in substantially sealed engagement with the outlet portion of a toilet bowl or with a fixture, such as a shower stall, around the drain therein. The handle element is then reciprocally moved toward and away from the plunger element so that the plunger element is alternately deformed and returned to an undeformed condition in order to alternately apply pressure and suction to the outlet portion of the toilet or the drain.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the plunger element 12 is preferably made of a deformable rubberized material, and the plunger element 12 includes a body portion 22 and a seal portion 24 which extends integrally from one end of the body portion 22. The body portion 22 is formed in a substantially circular, rounded, open, cup-shaped configuration so that it has an enlarged open end 26 and a reduced end 28. An enlarged open interior area or cavity 29 is formed in the body portion 22 so that it opens outwardly through the open end 26, and a tubular socket 30 extends inwardly in the body portion 22 from the reduced end 28, the socket 30 being dimensioned for snugly receiving the handle element 16 therein and terminating in closely spaced relation to the interior area 29. The enlarged end 26 of the body portion 22 merges with the seal portion 24 and it cooperates therewith to define an arcuately tapering tubular passage through which the open interior area or cavity 29 communicates with the exterior of the body portion 22. The seal portion 24 is preferably formed in a slightly reduced thickness to enable it to deform to the configuration of a toilet or drain and to provide an effective seal between the toilet or drain and the exterior of the body portion 22.

FIG. 1 illustrates the plunger caddy 100 of the present invention. The plunger caddy 100 includes a top 104, an opposing base 108 and upstanding sidewall 102 to connect the top 104 and the base 108. The top 104 includes a shoulder 112 to accept the enlarged end 26 of the plunger. The top 104 additionally includes a first aperture 110 to allow the seal portion 24 to pass through the top 104 of the plunger caddy 100. The shoulder 112 is formed around the periphery of the first aperture 110 to accept and support the enlarged end 26 of the plunger.

The plunger caddy 100 includes inclined wall 106 which includes a continuous surface and includes an edge which defines a second aperture 114 to accept an extended seal portion 824 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The diameter of the first aperture 110 is sufficient smaller than the diameter of the enlarged end 26, but larger than the diameter of the seal portion 24.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the plunger caddy 100 of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the top 104 and the shoulder 112 of the plunger caddy 100. FIG. 2 additionally illustrates the inclined wall 106 which extends from the top 104 into the cavity defined by the upstanding sidewall 102, the base 108 and the top 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the plunger caddy 100 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the upstanding sidewalls 102, the opposing base 108 and the top 104. Additionally, FIG. 3 shows the first aperture 110 and the second aperture 114 to accept the seal portion 24 and the extended seal portion 824.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the plunger caddy 100 of the present invention with the plunger. FIG. 7 shows the enlarged end 26 of the plunger positioned with the inclined wall 106.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plunger with an extended seal portion 824. This extended seal portion 824 may extend through the second aperture 114.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1) A plunger caddy, comprising: a plunger to be held by said plunger caddy having a handle element and a plunger element, the plunger element having a seal portion and an enlarged end; a top; a bottom opposing said top; a upstanding sidewall to connect said top and said bottom; said top including a first aperture to accept the seal portion of said plunger and said top to support the enlarged end of said plunger element. 2) A plunger caddy for holding a plunger as in claim 1, wherein said plunger includes a second aperture to accept said seal portion. 3) A plunger caddy for holding a plunger as in claim 1, wherein said plunger includes a shoulder around the periphery of said first aperture. 4) A plunger caddy for holding a plunger as in claim 2, wherein said plunger includes an inclined wall to define said second aperture. 